Cooper

Archive for January, 2012|Monthly archive page

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Fantasy Premier League: Tinkers Midweek

In Squad Sheet, Strategy on January 30, 2012 at 8:03 pm

It’s the fantasy premier league Last Minute Tinkers. Home (record) v Away (record) with the goals for:against. That’s it folks. Also, be sure and check out Cooper’s article at EPLIndex.com to nominate your Top 12th Man.

Swansea (5-5-1 15:6) v Chelsea (5-4-2 16:9)

This week has come to quickly for Andre Villas-Boas and his Chelsea side. With a difficult away match at Liberty Stadium to navigate, AVB will be without several of his first choice options:

Andre Villas-Boas has added John Terry to the injury list for Tuesday night’s trip to Swansea City.

The captain is among those to have been left behind with fitness problems ahead of our Barclays Premier League game at the Liberty Stadium, joining Ramires, Frank Lampard and John Mikel Obi on the sidelines.

This is compounded by the absence of Drogba and Kalou at the Cup of Nations. We’d normally be advocating a strong start for Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge, however, the only play here would be an early buy on the £7.2m Meireles who should be lining up every week until the depth of the squad returns and perhaps well beyond.

Given Swans poor offensive record, this is a decent start for the Chelsea defense, and the injury to Terry all but assures Gary Cahill will be part of that unit.  On loan Josh McEachran will not be able to play as part of the terms of his loan. Other Swansea options remain as per usual – home match, start everyone you still own, with Scott Sinclair and Michel Vorm topping the list. Read the rest of this entry »

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Fantasy Premier League: T(inkers)2

In Squad Sheet, Strategy on January 20, 2012 at 11:26 pm

This is game week 22 of Fantasy Premier League. Not much else to say so, right to it, then. Usual rules apply, home/away record and goals for:against listed. Long term injures typically not addressed unless the club did. Despite the title, we’re not talking too many transfers as the most important (McEachran to Swansea) will not matter until the Swans are back at Liberty. First five matches here, Part 1 available if you missed it earlier.

Sunderland (3-4-3 14:11) v Swansea (1-3-6 8:19)

Swansea away statistics are obviously still a bit slanted from the early season when they traveled to Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea, loosing all three matches, allowing 9 goals and scoring once.  Since that time they’re 1-3-3, still not a very good record. But, they’ve allowed just 10 goals in those matches while scoring 7. Further, Vorm has posted three away clean sheets, blanking Liverpool, Aston Villa and Newcastle. You can not rely on the Swans attack away from home. Even with the addition of Josh McEachran, £4.6m and they didn’t loan him to sit him!, this isn’t a strong attacking team. We like adding McEachran to Sinclair and Graham for fantasy premier league purposes, but we’re staying away until they’re back at home if we’re able.

For Sunderland it will be a a chance to extend a home scoring streak. They’ve been held without a goal at home only once in the EPL this season. That came back in game week two when visiting Liverpool beat them 2-0. Of course, Swansea did hold them without a goal at Libery in a 0-0 draw. Read the rest of this entry »

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Fantasy Premier League LMT: Transfers

In Squad Sheet, Strategy on January 20, 2012 at 8:47 pm

This is game week 22 of Fantasy Premier League. Not much else to say so, right to it, then. Usual rules apply, home/away record and goals for:against listed. Long term injures typically not addressed unless the club did. Despite the title, we’re not talking too many transfers as the most important (Cisse to Newcastle) will not matter until after ACoN duty wraps up. First five matches here, Part 2/2 has the other 5.

Norwich (4-3-3 17:15) v Chelsea (5-3-2 16:9)

Chelsea have allowed the second fewest goals of any traveling side this season, behind only Manchester United’s six. Though they have kept just five clean sheets, the recently added Gary Cahill should help assist stability at the back.  This is far from a sure thing, and our continued doubts over their solidity at the back continue to linger, particularly as their last clean sheets stopped a run of six on the bounce without one. Daniel Sturridge looks to be back fit. He hasn’t played a full 90′ in quite some time, and did not get brought into either the previous two matches.

For Norwich, there isn’t much to say that hasn’t been said. Pilkington looks to be back to first choice sXI, with at least 79′ in each of the past three. He leads all Canaries midfielders wit 70 FPL points and is second in fantasy premier league points on the side with only Steve Morison ahead of him. Morison remains a valuable asset for those willing to gamble on a lesser name. In the past 8 FPL game weeks he has returned 5 or more points 6 times. After Chelsea Norwich get Sunderland, Bolton and Swansea. He’s as good a low cost option as you’ll find in the game. Read the rest of this entry »

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Fantasy Impact: QPR

In Squad Sheet, Strategy on January 19, 2012 at 1:51 am

After needing two matches to dispose of MK Dons, QPR finally won an FA Cup match. Of importance here for Fantasy Premier League managers are both that the loan goal came from Danny Gabbidon and that new manager Mark Hughes started a full strength squad.

Queens Park is about to start a seven match run that will no doubt determine their season.  Between now and 17 March when they host Liverpool, QPR will face Wigan(h), Aston Villa(a), Wolves(h), Blackburn(a), Fulham(h), Everton(h), Bolton(a). For Fantasy Premier League managers this would look to be a good opportunity to buy low on several under-performing Hoops stars. However, there has been no sign of life, even when playing lower division opposition.

Mark Hughes appointment and the flutter of possible transfer activity will no doubt see this roster altered slightly before the window closes. The club will also be getting back their departed African Cup of Nations players Armand Traore and Adel Taarabt at some point in February.  However, this side started a full strength XI against the Dons and did not show any class in front on goal. Shaun Wright-Phillips was off target on several attempts, and both Jay Bothroyd, Macheda and Mackie, playing in a front three obviously did not score. But the trio also only managed three shots, two on target, and all three of those belonged to Bothroyd.  More promising were the three shots taken by midfielder Akos Buzsaky.

Buzsaky is currently priced £4.4m and is owned by only 0.5% of FPL managers in the Official Fantasy Premier League game.   Read the rest of this entry »

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Fantasy Premier League LMT 2/2

In Squad Sheet, Strategy on January 13, 2012 at 11:53 pm

The final 5 fixtures of game week 21 are discussed within. If you’ve missed Part 1, you can read it here.

Tottenham (8-1-1 20:8) v Wolverhampton (1-3-6 8:19)

Wolves last six matches have ended without a victory. They’re giving up goals across the board, two to Chelsea (Lampard, Ramires), one each to Bolton (Ricketts) and Arsenal (Gervinho) and two to Norwich (Surman, Jackson) in the last four. They haven’t kept a clean sheet since game week 3.  Given the number of recent goals coming from the midfield and defense we’re quite happy to start Bale, van der Vaart and you choice of defenders – with most seemingly selecting top point earned Assou-Ekotto.  Aaron Lennon, priced £7.2m and coming off a goal against Everton, would also be a good one week start here if you’ve space. While Spurs are  saying all the right things, Scott Parker still needs to pass fit:

Harry Redknapp said he was ‘hopeful’ that the midfielder would be fit to face Mick McCarthy’s men after missing the last three matches with a knee injury sustained at Swansea on New Year’s Eve. ”We’re hoping he’s going to be okay,” said Harry ahead of training on Friday.

We’re not counting on him though it should be noted, his presence – or lack there of – didn’t seem to matter with Spurs winning both of their last two without allowing a goal.

Fletcher is truly the only player that we’d start against Tottenham, and that isn’t a great start here. Wolves were held 0-2 at home in game week 4 and Spurs have only gotten stronger at the back since that game with Friedel allowing just 2 goals in their last 6, keeping 4 clean sheets to raise his seasons tally to 8. Read the rest of this entry »

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Fantasy Premier League LMT

In Squad Sheet, Strategy on January 13, 2012 at 8:56 pm

Part 1 of 2. Second part to come later (EDIT: Part 2 Available HERE) this evening.  First 5 fixtures covered here.  We’re adding one more quick snippet to the weekly match-ups: the first meeting score.  While this isn’t going to be a perfect indicator of future success, it can show where to look on the field for goal. We’ve mentioned this in several tweets, but Wolves have been quite poor at preventing goals, as you likely know. However, the source of those goals have, of late, been the oppositions defenders and midfielders. With Spurs getting them this weekend, it’s an ideal time to re-acquire Rafa van der Vaart (under 10% ownership in Fantasy Premier League) or hand the captains armband to Gareth Bale. As always brackets have respective home/away record and goals for:against in those fixtures.

Aston Villa (3-2-5 11:13) v Everton (4-1-5 10:12)

This is the most even of matches in the opening five fixtures, with neither side seeing more than a goal a match either way.  Aston Villa’s early home form has given way to a four match losing streak at Villa Park as visitors in those four matches have scored 7 times and allowed the Villans to score just once. In fact, over their last 9 EPL fixtures they have been held without a goal six times. Facing an Everton side that is allowing just over a goal a game, we’re certainly not expecting much from Alex McLeish’s side, especially as they’ll still be missing Emile Heskey.

Of course, Robbie Keane’s been signed so their quota of strikers who once suited up for Liverpool will still be met. Read the rest of this entry »

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Play The Wildcard: Winter Window

In Squad Sheet, Strategy on January 12, 2012 at 6:00 pm

Fantasy Premier League in the second half is often about finding the differentials.  Any time you can pick up 4 points that your mini-league misses out on need to be capitalized upon.  While transfers are still shaking up the rosters of several teams, Africa Cup of Nations has stolen away at least two top options, and injuries, rotation and the Carling Cup still have something to say, we’ve played our Wild Card early to capitalize on low ownership, good match-ups and new positions.

Fantasy Premier League team as it currently stands with grey players those originally targeted for transfer out:

Demba Ba is still holding 19.3% ownership, for those other 80.7% of people owning any one else holds the potential for returns that simply aren’t there when your player is a continent away. While we like the match-ups for Rooney and Aguero in the next week or two, we’re also mindful of lower priced options like Daniel Sturridge.  For purposes of gaining ground, we’re going to take a risk with one of the three forward spots and add Peter Odemwingie. Read the rest of this entry »

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Everton: Tim Cahill & Leighton Baines

In Player Projection, Strategy on January 12, 2012 at 3:03 pm

Tim Cahill has experienced a resurgence in the past two games. No, he’s not earning any more Fantasy Premier League points (just 1 apiece in double fixture week, netting a total of 2 in fixtures against Bolton and Tottenham). Rather, his ownership has increased in advance of the game week double.  This is just the 4th time all season his ownership his gone up all year.  His price remains fixed at £8.5m in the Official Fantasy Premier League, down from £9m at the start of the year.  Cahill he has yet to score more than 6 points in a single game week. In fact, Cahill has eclipsed the 2 point mark only four times in 20 game weeks. He earned 5 points in back-to-back home fixtures against Aston Villa and Wigan back in September. He also earned 6 against Bolton away and 4 points in the New Years contest at West Brom.  Despite playing in 19 of 20 EPL fixtures, accruing 1278′ and playing in a primarily attacking role, Cahill has added just 3 assists and 1 bonus point to your squad.

If you are in the 1.5% of ownership, Cahill certainly does not look like a player who can be kept. Even with the next two weeks coming up Aston Villa have allowed 13 goals in 10 home fixtures while Everton have scored just 10 in 10 away.  While the Blackburn fixture at Goodison would be an excellent match-up for the Aussie midfielder, the following stretch of 8 matches does not provide many other chances. If you haven’t used your transfer window Wild Card, Cahill is certainly one of the players to move out, either this week or before the Wild Card expires.

Leighton Baines has not fared as poorly, his current Fantasy Premier League ownership stands at 6.4% after 18,843 new owners bought him in advance of the game week double.   Read the rest of this entry »

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New Year; Same Tinkers

In Squad Sheet, Strategy on January 2, 2012 at 2:49 am

Very short Tinkers tonight/morning….

Wayne Rooney (and Darren Gibson) were reportedly dropped from the squad for drinking on Boxing Day. A similar excuse will be used for any omissions in this column. While our SimPrem team benefited from a second consecutive Berbatov start, we’re still not buying him here though the match-up with Newcastle ripe for the picking at the moment.

Chris Brunt is set to miss out – word coming from WBA Official website so we’re presuming this one can be trusted!

The Baggies skipper had to be helped off by the club’s medical staff in stoppage time after going down with a right-leg injury.

We’re putting less stock in the MailOnline’s “EXCLUSIVE” story that Sturridge and Drogba are both set to miss the next fixture. With rotation likely, and with the story having possible credence, we’re still not selling Sturridge at this point due to his higher price and certain role during the ACoN. That same tournament is a good reason to sell Drogba, with this likely his last match in a month regardless.

Less interesting, as they play so little that they can’t justify much of a role in any Fantasy Premier League side, is this: Read the rest of this entry »